
Copyright K^ 



U7 



CfflSRIGHT DEPOSm 



Were Coming, Bill, We're Coming* 

AND 

OTHER WAR POEMS 



BY 

GEORGE CORBIN FERINE 

(AUTHOR OF "The Poets and Verse-writers 
OF Maryland") 



DEDICATED TO 

OUR BOYS IN KHAKI 

AND 

OUR BOYS IN BLUE 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 
1919 



^^ 



^ 



MAR 21 1919 



Cl.A51398« 



^ . / 



INDEX 

Invocation To Those At Home 1 

We're Coming, Bill, We're Coming 2 

We'll Get You, Coon, We'll Get You. . . 5 
How Would It Be, Boys, How Would 

It Be? 7 

Never This Side of Berlin 9 

What We Should Do 10 

If It's Long To Tipperrary 11 

The Kaiser's " Kultur " 12 

Red Cross Nurses 13 

Pack Up Your Things, Boys 14 

Our Day 17 

The First of Our Heroes Have Fallen. . . 19 

Wouldn't It Be a Wonderful Thing 21 

Over The Border 23 

The Mother's Farewell to Her Boy 25 

The Kaiser's Bluff 25 

I Wonder 27 

What's The Matter? 28 

Back, Back, Mr. Hun! 29 

A Serious Question 30 

A Toast To The Navy 30 

Three Cheers For The Men In Shipyards 31 

Good Night 32 



COPYRIGHT 
1919 



II^VOCATIO^ TO THOSE AT HOAIE. 

Dark though the night ai:)pears 
Through three long weary years 

We're not alone ; 
Though shadows deepen yet, 
Let Christians not forget 

God's on His throne! 

Though we send men and guns 
Fonvard to meet the Huns 

Raving out there, 
All of this strength and strain 
Will be at best in vain 

Backed not by prayer. 

Oh, Christians, one and al]. 
Lest all that's good should fall 

Pray for success ! 
Pray as you've never prayed, 
Pray and be not afraid, 

'None can do less. 

No matter w^hat we hear 
Fear not, be of good cheer, 
All will go right : 



While God does live and reign 
Prayer ne'er has been in vain, 
Let us be bright ! 



WE'KE COMIJSTG, BILL, WE'EE 
COMING. 

We're coming, Bill, we're coming ! 

Do you know just what that means ? 
Thirty thousand aeroplanes 

And five billions in our jeans! 
A merchant fleet 
That can't be beat, 

Foodstuffs piled up galore. 
And when they go 
We'll plant and sow 

Foodstuffs as many more ! 

We're coming. Bill, we're coming, 
Uncle Sammy will be glad 

To meet you crucifier, 

For you've made him fighting mad I 

N'ow is the time 

He says each crime 

With interest you must pay ; 



Your orgies too 
At last are through, 

You've reached your reckoning day ! 

We're coming, Bill, we're coming, 

From the deep, the earth, the sky, 
A plaintive wail has reached us 

From young children as they cry ! 
Half clad! half fed! 
Some lucky dead ! 

And some too ill to feel ! 
Some lost ! some shot ! 
God knows what not. 

Some crushed heneath your heel ! 

We're coming, Bill, we're coming. 

You've made men forget their lives — 
A second call has reached us 

From the aged, girls and wives ! 
Your conscience dead. 
Your hands all red 

With children's blood, you sell 
And sacrifice 
To every vice 

Your wretched soul to hell ! 



We're coming, Bill, we're coming, 

And we'll wipe away the tears 
From children's eyes and women's 

Though it takes a thousand years ! 
And as for you, 
When we get through, 

As sure as you were born, 
You'll find your lands 
In other's hands, 

Yourself in stripes and shorn ! 

We're coming. Bill, we're coming! 

And there is no use to hide, 
For Pershing is our General, 

And our God will be our guide ! 
Bring up your guns ! 
Charge with your Huns ! 

Do everything you can ; 
A hopeless fight. 
This might o'er right. 

You fight 'gainst God and man ' 



WE'LL GET YOU, COON, WETL 
GET YOU. 

Hip, hip, hooray ! 
We're going awaj 

On a little hunting trip, 
That Kaiser coon 
We'll tree real soon, 

.He cannot from us slip ! 

We'll get you, coon, we'll get you 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you 
Then we'll all come marching home. 

The old, old tree 
Is Germany, 

He's running round it now ! 
When we begin 
To all close in 

We'll get him anyhow ! 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you ! etc. 

He's run a-muck 
Ar.d had the luck 

Three years to have full swing, 

5 



Though others fail 
To find his trail 

That coon home we will bring ! 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you ! etc. 

Put on the pot, 
The stove keep hot, 

We'll cook him to a shred ! 
His skin is toug'h. 
That is no bluff, 

They say like iron's his head ! 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you ! etc. 

The cooking through, 
What we will do 

With our unsavory treat, 
We'll dump it out 
With one great shout 

For hogs in the yard to eat ! 
We'll get you, coon, we'll get you ! etc. 



HOW WOULD IT BE, BOYS, HOW 
WOULD IT BE? 

How would it be^ boys, bow would it be 
Witb tbe Germans, Austrians, Turks, all 

tbree, 
If looking across tbat "l^o Man's Land'' 
Wbere notbing can live or notbing stand, 
Wbere belcbing guns are tbe only sound 
And liquid fire to be seen around, 
If tbe Grermans, Austrians, Turks, all tbree 
Had Grant to face and R. E. Lee ! 
How would it be, boys, bow would it he ? 

How would it be, boys, bow would it he 

If our dream could be reality ? 

And Jackson was tbere upon tbe rigbt, 

Witb Stuart, tbat young and gallant knigbt! 

And D. H. Hill and McClellen too, 

Wbo questions tbat tbey would not "go 

tbrougb" ! 
Tbe Germans, Austrians, Turks, all tbree 
One more lone nigbt in security 
Migbt sleep if it suited tbis galaxy ! 

How would it be, boys, bow would it be. 
As tbe sun was rising o'er vale and tree, 

7 



If Lee gave the order short and clear, 
(Though a thousand Hindenhergs were 

near ! ) 
^^Up, (Charge, bojs, charge, quick over the 

top!" 
What earthly thing could the boys then 

stop ? 
Barbed wire and shot and flame all three 
Make some men waver, would Grant and 

Lee! 
How would it ^be, boys, how would how 

would it be ? 

How would it bo, boys, how would it be 
With the Germans, Austrians, Turks, all 

three 
With their trenches reached, now hand to 

hand. 
If Jackson should quickly give command : 
^^Give them the bayonet, boys, they'll see 
That the Stars and Stripes spell victory !" 
Would the Germans, Austrians, Turks, all 

thrpft 
mtsay: "We'll SUEEEI^DEK to Grant 

and Lee !" 
How would it be, boys, how would it be ? 



NEVER THIS SIDE OE BEELm. 

Kever this side of Berlin, Boys, 

N"ever this side of Berlin 
Will we turn or stop, but over the top 

Till we all are landed in ! 
And the wretched foe 
i^ow cowering low 

Will throw down his bloody guns — 
Then many a mile 
To a rocky aisle 

We will ship the dastard Huns I 

The sound of cannon will cease. Boys, 

The sound of caimon will cease. 
And the half-dead woman and handlesa 
child 

We will quickly then release ; 
And the fields again 
Will all teem with grain 

And brightly will shine the sun — 
But all over hell 
Will the tortured yell 

Arise from a burning Hun ! 



WHAT WE SHOULD DO. 

When a spy comes crawling and creeping 

To do some low down deed, 
Like a sinuous, shining reptile 

To bite the hands that feed — 
A thing so low 
Should have no show 

But an ounce of red hot lead ! 
Any old place, 
Don't try the case, 

Just see that the reptile's dead ! 

When men say: "Fm patriotic!" 

But let their actions fail 
To show they really are with us 

They should be sent to jail ! 
If there's a doubt 
I'd kick them out. 

This is but a suggestion ; 
A jail's the place. 
For there they're safe, 

We have no time to question ! 

With the Huns o'er-running Europe 
With fire and sword and gun, 

10 



And liberty in the balance — 

We've got to stand as one ! 
I'd make the air 
Here, everywhere, 

For them who with us dwell, 
So hot if they 
Should us betray 

They'd think they lived in hell ! 

IF IT'S LOl^G TO TIPPERRAHY. 

If it's long to Tipperrary 

And as far to gay 'Tarie," 
All roads we'll find are shorter now 

That lead to Germany ! 
For Pershing, Pershing 

Has gone to act as guide, 
And Pershing, Pershing ^ 

They cannot keep outside ! 

Old Joffre spoiled the Kaiser's dinner 

On that 25th we know, 
And the western front is holding 

Notwithstanding every blow ! 
But Pershing, Pershing 

Is going to Berlin, 

11 



Yes, Pershiiig, Pershing 
On William will drop in ! 

Though he doesn't care to visit, 

That is as a usual thing, 
He has got a sort of longing 

To see that old Kaiser-King ! 
And Pershing, Pershing 

Will surelj make that call, 
Or Pershing, Pershing 

Will not come back at all ! 



THE KAISER'S ^'KULTUR." 

So you've cut the throat of a soldier ! 

Of a boy of the U. S. A., 
And will iron crosses reward you 

Again for this fiendish display ! 

Is this what the Kaiser calls ^^Kultur ?" 
(Hanging should be your reward !) 

Do such acts inspire the Kaiser 

To say : ^Tet us onward with God !" 

Such acts and such blasphemy ever 
Lead but to one end that is sure, 

12 



That end is defeat and oblivion 
To Germany and her ''Kultur !" 

EED CEOSS NURSES. 

If prayers for yonr safe-keeping, 

For happiness and health, 
For a reward far greater 

Than can be had with wealth, 
Would bring you these, who suffer 

For us in field and glen. 
Our prayers, oh dearest nurses. 

Would rise from countless men ! 

For we know you are waiting, 

As oft we lonely stand 
While shots are falling round us, 

To lend a helping hand ; 
To bathe the feverish forehead. 

To quench the thirst with drink, 
To pen last words to Mother 

If we stand on life's brink ! 

Though sorely tried with patience. 
Though heart-sore half the while. 

Yet ever waiting for us 
To greet us with a smile ! 

13 



Like one clear ray of sunlight 
Upon a storm-lashed sea, 

That smile to wounded soldiers 
Always appears to be ! 

If you were taken from us 

By some great unseen hand, 
Our lives would be like nature 

Far out in "^^o Man's Land !" 
A desert without water ! 

A night without a day ! 
Death without resurrection 

When life shall pass away ! 



PACK UP YOUR THINGS, BOYS. 

Pack up your things, boys, 

For what do you care, 
Duty is calling — 

You're wanted out there ! 



Mothers are waiting 
To bid you good-bye. 

Sisters and sweethearts 
With pride in their eye ! 

14 



Uncle Sam's with jou, 
He'll look to each need, 

Every heart's wishing 
You all a God-speed ! 

Think of jonr mission, 
Keep that in your view, 

Peace for all ages 
Depends now on you ! 



The flag that yon carry 
Has never heen foiled, 

Stand by it ever. 
Return it unsoiled ! 

Be kind to all women, 
For sacred's the name, 

'No matter what country's 
For they're not to blame ! 



Pity all children, 

Neglect not a one. 
They don't even know 

What their daddys have done ! 

15 



But, when God wills it 
That you meet the foe, 

Be like a bull dog 
And never let go ! 

Fight like a madman 

That would his chains break ! 
Fight on for no less 

Your country's at stake, 

Fight like a demon, 

Fight on night and day, 
Fight with the fury 

Of lions at bay ! 

Fight without stopping, 
Fight all that you're worth, 

Fight till all Germans 

Are wiped from the earth ! 

Then with Old Glory 

Still clasped in your hand, 

You will return to 

Your own native land. 

16 



All now will love you 
Who ne'er loved before, 

While those who loved you 
Will love you the more. 

But this will give you 
The greatest delight ; 

You did your duty — 
You did what was right ! 



OUE DAY. 

Our Allies have fought well, 
Give them a breathing spell, 
Let us the powder smell 

It is our right ! 
For it is our day, 
Bring up the U. S. A., 
We'll show the Huns the way 

How we can fight ! 

Our flag plant on the top. 
Do not an instant stop, 
Woe to the foes who drop 
One with a shell ! 

17 



Line up the cannon too, 
Show what the tanks can do, 
We're going in and through 
Germany's hell ! 

Tell all our birdmen rise 
Like clouds before the eyes, 
Till iblack will be the skies 

With their wings spread ! 
Bring up grenades, we'll show 
How straight our boys can throw, 
Spare not the heartless foe 

Till all are dead! 

Shoot out our gaseous fumes. 
Though everything consumes 
From man to all that blooms — 

All in our way ! 
Trust not the foe at all 
When he pretends to fall, 
Give him another ball 

Where he does lay ! 

Eide straight across him too ! 
Do all that you can do ! 
He'd do the same to you. 
He calls that war ! 

18 



Give him all that lie wants, 
Show him that nothing daunts, 
Laugh at his boastful taunts 
And then some more ! 



THE FIRST OF OUR HEROES 
HAVE FALLEI^. 

The first of our heroes have fallen, 
To help to free Europe they tried. 

Protecting the women and children 

From worse than a death they have died ! 

They feared not the wrath of the Kaiser 
'Ko matter how ruthless or strong. 

With pleasure they sprang in the trenches, 
Their lips bore a smile and a song ! 

Above them they planted Old Glory, 

So everyone plainly could see 
That emblem which ever has stood for 

One thing and that thing Liberty ! 

The boys they were greatly outnumbered, 
But there they were placed and to stay, 

19 



And all of the Kaiser's grim army 
Alive could not take all away ! 

The Huns they respect not the courage 
Of men who have made a good fight, 

Their sense of all morals so blighted 

They know not the wrong from the right ! 

They came like a wave of the ocean, 
Preceded by curtains of flame ! 

Well-seasoned in this kind of warfare. 
Delighting in this fiendish game ! 

The boys in the trenches they waited, 
More courage none living could show ! 

And when that wave broke on the trenches 
The boys were still facing the foe ! 

Two heroes fell mortally wounded, 
For Liberty gave up their lives ! 
A third one the Huns now surrounded 
And butchered to death with their knives ! 

And these are the crimes that the Kaiser 
Expects that his Maker will bless ! 

The Kaiser, in rage, has forgotten 

The Lord's promised wrongs to redress ! 

20 



That fulfillment surely is coming 
As Christians believe and all know, 

The Kaiser, his land and his people 
Will bear the full force of the blow ! 

The Earth was not made for one person, 
A tyrant to sway with his hand. 

With all of the people upon it 
As" slaves to be tilling his land ! 

Who thinks such a thing is a madman ! 

He's infinitely worse than a fool — 
The Kaiser's entirely forgotten 

It's God and not he that does rule ! 



WOULD:^r'T IT BE A WOJ^DEEEUL 
THIISrG. 

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing, 
A wonderful thing, a wonderful thing, 
While all around the guns did pop 
To be the first man over the top ! 
With one great yell, a terrible yell. 
Like a million demons loosed from hell I 
My, boys ! O, boys ! wouldn't it be some 
fun? 

21 



Mj, boys! O, boys! wouldnH you love to 

face, 
Wouldn't you love to face, wouldn't you 

love to face 
The Kaiser's men^ their hands all red, 
Butchers of women and children in bed ! 
With a cross for bravery pinned to each, 
Eewards for ^^Kultur" the Kaiser would 

teach ! 
My, boys ! O, boys ! to teach them with a 
gun! 

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing, 

A wonderful thing, a wonderful thing 

To capture the Kaiser in a snooze. 

In a champagne booze, in a champagne 

booze! 
To tar and feather him "ohne" clothes, 
And lead him back with a ring in his nose ! 
My, boys! O, boys! wouldn't our Allies 

say: 
^^Hooray ! hooray ! for the U. S. A. ! 
And the khaki boys of the Blue and Gray !" 



22 



OVER THE BORDER. 

Over the border, 
Tliat is the order, 

Into the Kaiser's realm! 
The way is not long — 
We cannot go wrong — 

Old Sammy's at the helm ! 

Our faces will beam 
As we put on steam 

To leave for over there, 
iVnd each mile we go 
Will drag by too slow. 

Why can't we go by air ? 

You know you will hear 
From us, Mother dear. 

As soon as we arrive, 
And that we're not dead 
You will find instead 

We're very much alive ! 

And the Kaiser too 
With his demon crew 

Will know that we're about 



23 



But that is not all, 
Though thej scream and bawl 
Thej cannot keep us out ! 

And how they will feel, 
And how they will squeal 

And feel and squeal again, 
When upon the air 
Will arise everywhere 

The Star-Spangled Banner's strain 

And then they will hear 
A terrible cheer 

From us the Blue and Gray — 
The order at last 
Will then have been passed 

To clear the Huns away ! 

Over the border. 
That is the order, 

Into the Kaiser's realm ! 
The way is not long — 
We cannot go wrong — 

Old Sammy's at the helm! 



24 



THE MOTHER'S FAREWELL TO 
HER BOY. 

In bidding joii farewell, dear boy, 

I do not hesitate nor cry, 
But bid you go with all my heart 

To conquer or to die ! 

If this were but a war for wealth 

Or conquest, then my heart would break, 

But 'tis for liberty or death, 
A world's peace is at stake ! 

The men who willed to us this land 
Were freemen both in limb and brain, 

And God forbid while time shall last 
Their children wear a chain ! 

I say therefore again farewell, 

I^or do I hesitate nor cry. 
But bid you go with all my heart 

To conquer or to die ! 

THE KAISER'S BLUFF. 

^^Hello there !" said the Kaiser 

To Uncle Sam one day, 
^'1 dare you cross the water 

And get into the fray !" 

25 



When Sammy heard the bluffing 
He pushed off from the shore, 

And said : ^'Well, Bill, I'm coming 
To show you what is warl" 

The Kaiser's knees then trembled, 
He thought his bluff would go 

Or never would have tried it. 
He Sammy didn't know ! 

But Sammy be meant business 
And landed mighty quick. 

And said : "Come on I'm ready, 
Though fussing I don't pick !" 

With that he raps old Kuppreoht 
Right square upon the eye ! 

Then Hindenberg he thrashes 
Until he makes him cry. 

The other German leaders 
Said : "We must be discreet !" 

Then without hesitating 
Took quickly to their feet ! 

26 



Then Sammy shaved the Kaiser 
And gave him a new suit, 

The striped ooat and the trousers 
Made him look awfully cute ! 

And round his neck was fastened 

An iron ball and chain, 
So that this dangerous criminal 

Could not get loose again ! 

Then back old Sammy brought him, 
That all the world might see 

The fate of all world-beaters 
Who go upon a spree ! 



I WOI^DER? 

I wonder what the Huns will say 
Some morning at the break of day, 
When suddenly to left and right 
A thousand flags will rise to sight, 
A thousand flags that like the skies 
Shine with a myriad starry eyes, 
And like the stars in heaven's crown — 
No living man can pull them down ! 

27 



I wonder what the Huns will do 

When those proud flags come charging 

through 
Barbed wire^ and shot, right up the hill, 
If they'll believe their Kaiser Bill 
When in the future he will say : 
"A great big 'bluffs this U. S. A. !" 
Then as his men throw down their guns — 
^'A Blue or Gray is worth two Huns !'' 



WHAT'S THE MATTEK? 

Say, what's the matter, Hindenburg ? 

And you too. Kaiser Bill ? 
And Ludendorff and Ruprecht too 

Have you all got your fill ? 

It's true the valleys they are packed 

With your reclining sons. 
And all of them upon their breasts 

Bear crosses — wooden ones ! 

The very streams are running red 
With your men's blood, who give 

ITp living on the earth to go 
And with the fishes live! 

28 



In hell old Belzebub complains 
His rest is even broken, 

For now there's not a single word 
In hell but German spoken ! 



BACK, BACK, MR. HUX ! 

Back, back, back, get back, Mr. Hnn ! 
You can't stop, we've got you on the run ! 

You'd better stop your revels ! 

Here come the Blue Devils ! 
^Yatch out, watch out, watch out, Mr. Hun ! 

Back, back, back, get back, Mr. Vulture ! 

Back to hell, you and all your culture ! 
You'd better stop your bumming — 
The Tommies they are coming — 

Beat it, beat it, beat it, Mr. Vulture ! 

Back, back, back, get back, Mr. Liar ! 
Back of the Rhine, you've got to retire! 

You'd better stop your striving — 

For Uncle Sam's arriving — 
Good bye, good bye, good bye, Mr. Liar ! 



29 



A SERIOUS QUESTION. 

Oh what shall we do with the Kaiser ? 

Oh where shall we send him to dwell ? 
For there is no land that will have him. 

They don't even want him in hell 1 

The ocean's filled up with his U-boats, 
And Bill has no wings for the air ! 

It seems neither God nor the devil 
JSTor man wants the wretch anywhere ! 



A TOAST TO THE NAVY. 

To our boys who know no fears ! 
Who more than a hundred years 

Have been our pride and boast ! 
To our sailors on the sea, 
Our Marines — ^where'er they be — 

I drink this toast! 



30 



THREE CHEERS FOR THE ME^ IN 
SHIPYARDS. 

Three cheers for the men in shipyards ! 
The men with the hammer and saw, 

The rivetters too 

And -all of the crew, 

For every blow 

They make we all know 
Is a rap at the Kaiser's door ! 

Three cheers for the men in shipyards ! 
The men with the brawn and muscle — 

Before you count three 

They will bridge the sea. 

With scarcely a loss 

For our boys to cross, 
Then watch out, Bill, for a tussel ! 

Three cheers for the men in shipyards ! 
For they're every one as true 

A patriot quite 

As any knight 

Who shoulders a gam 

To look for a Hun, 
Or a barrage of fire goes through ! 

32 



Three cheers for the men in shipyards ! 
Who' re patiently toiling each day, 

Who holidays give, 

That Liberty live. 

For every one 

The sun shines upon 
When they have themselves passed away ! 

Three cheers for the men in shipyards ! 
The men who are speeding the fall 

Of the devil's rule, 

(For William's his tool !) 

That might's over right, 

Though not in God's sight ! 
May the Lord bless you one and all. 



GOOD NIGHT. 

If we've sent abroad already 

A million men or more, 
You see, old Bill, and don't forget, 

We're making good that's sure ! 
And we're coming, we're coming 
With Yankee Doodle humming. 
And if we find you bumming 
Still in Belgium say — Good night ! 

31 



Then we're going to send a second 

To see the first is well, 
And I'll tell to you a secret — 

They too can fight like hell 1 
And we're coming, we're coming 
With Yankee Doodle humming, 
And if we find you bumming 
Still in France then say — Good night ! 

Then we're going to send another, 

Their mission will be fun, 
The only thing that they will do 

Is ^^Deutschland" over-run ! 
And we're coming, we're coming 
With Yankee Doodle humming. 
And here will end your bumming 
To the world you'll say — Good night ! 




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